Whatever the student's goal in the world of business, the general concentration allows the student to tailor the MBA program to his or her individual needs.

Students may choose any four 3-unit courses from the GGU graduate catalog to build a custom course of study. With an array of electives to choose from, students can pick those courses that provide the set of knowledge and skills that they will need in their careers. Students may select courses from accounting, economics, finance, information technology management, international business, management, marketing, operations and supply chain management, project management, public administration, psychology or taxation.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

Four 300- or 400-level courses with the following prefixes:

ACCTG, ECON, EMPA, FI, HSM, ITM, MGT, MKT, OP, PR, PSYCH or TA.

A computative-focused graduate concentration designed to train MBA students for an accounting specialty.

The concentration in accounting is recommended for MBA students with a background in accounting, or students who have a strong interest in the field. Whether students' career goals lie in the public sector, private industry, or not-for-profit organizations, they learn how to apply the theory and practice of contemporary accounting to a variety of management positions. They get abundant hands-on practice, a strong foundation in the latest technology used in the field, and the accounting and management tools needed to be a leader in their chosen organization.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

ACCTG 301

Introduction to Accounting Standards

ACCTG 301A

Intermediate Accounting I

ACCTG 301B

Intermediate Accounting II

Any other 300-level course with the ACCTG prefix, which may NOT include ACCTG 398.

This practice-based concentration educates students in an understanding of contemporary leadership and management theories with special emphasis on application and skill development. Students who take this concentration will be well prepared to manage, lead, and produce results in today’s complex, global business environment.

REQUIRED COURSES — 9 UNITS

LEAD 304

Leading Complex Change

LEAD 305

Adaptive Decision Making

MGT 348

Negotiating in Business

ELECTIVE COURSE — 3 UNITS

One of the following:

MGT 301

Entrepreneurship

MGT 304

International Business Strategy

MGT 312

Business Planning for Entrepreneurs

MGT 320

Management Leadership: Theory and Practice

MGT 324

Organizational Behavior & Process

MGT 353

Organizational Development

MGT 396CR

Conflict Resolution

MGT 398

Internship: Management

A targeted graduate concentration designed for MBA students to work within the business analytics field.

Business analytics has exploded in the last few years, offering many new opportunities for managers who understand business operations and are able to evaluate massive amounts of data. The Business Analytics Concentration is designed for the MBA student who must be able to apply data analytics tools and techniques to both structured and unstructured data, extracting information that the organization can use for strategic decision-making. Students taking this concentration will be introduced to specialized analytics tools and technologies.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

MSBA 300

Foundations of Business Analytics (Take This First)

Plus three of the following:

MSBA 301

Performance Management & Metrics

MSBA 304

Database Theory & Data Management Tools

MSBA 305

Business Intelligence & Decision Support

MSBA 320

Advanced Statistical Analysis with R & Python

MSBA 324

Web & Social Network Analytics

MSBA 328

Visualization & Communication Through Storytelling

For ambition persons who want to start and grow their own business, and / or manage innovation within a larger enterprise.

This concentration offers the opportunity to learn how to design, finance, and manage a new venture. Real-world practical skills combined with the most current theory provides a solid foundation. All students in this program will construct a business plan for their venture, and will also have the flexibility to choose additional courses to support their particular interests.

REQUIRED COURSES — 6 UNITS

MGT 301

Entrepreneurship & New Business Development

MGT 312

Business Planning for Entrepreneurs

ELECTIVE COURSES — 6 UNITS

Two of the following:

FI 318

Venture Capital & Start-Up Financing

MGT 304

International Business Strategy

MGT 348

Negotiating in Business

MKT 335

New-Product Decisions

OP 303

Managing Innovation & Technology

OR

 

Any 300 or above level course with permission of the Management Department Chair.

An analytical graduate concentration designed to prepare MBA students for a finance specialty.

Whatever goal students have in the world of business, from corporate management to consulting and entrepreneurship, the study of finance gives them the grounding in decision-making techniques that will help ensure the financial health of their enterprise in the competitive global market. Students learn capital budgeting, capital structure, investment management, and short-term capital management. Our unique method; combining a theoretical knowledge of finance with extensive hands-on learning, using real-life case studies and our state-of-the art computer labs, gives students the abilities to be an effective and competent manager in any organization.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

FI 300

Corporate Finance

Three 300- or 400-level courses (9 units) with the FI or ECON prefix, which may include:

FI 497

Internship: Finance

A powerful graduate concentration designed to prepare MBA students for a career in supply chain management

Global supply chain management (GSCM) is a group of business processes involved in providing goods and services to customers including worldwide management of purchasing, production, logistics, inventory, order, technology, and international trade operations. The GSCM concentration provides students with the theories and practices to be successful in this area of modern business that is now critical for a competitive advantage. Students take two core and two elective courses that cover the key strategic, design, tactical, and execution management knowledge for advanced competency. The elective courses allow students to tailor their education in the most important areas of GSCM. This program uses real world application, key decision analytics, expert content, cases, and projects to prepare students to become change agents for GSCM evolution in their organizations. In addition to professional knowledge, each student will also have the opportunity to create a career plan to accomplish their goals with the support of academic, industry, and alumni advisors to create a regime of continuous learning and networking beyond the degree.

CORE COURSES — 6 UNITS

OP 321

Supply Chain Planning & Control

OP 329

Global Supply Chain Management Applications & Analytics
(to be taken as last concentration course)

ELECTIVES — 6 UNITS

Two of the following:

OP 301

Sustainable Supply Chain Operations

OP 302

Quality Management & Process Improvement

OP 303

Managing Innovation & Technology

OP 305

Supply Chain Management Technology & Information Systems

OP 320

Strategic Sourcing

OP 323

Supply Chain Logistics Management

OP 398

Internship: Operations Management

In the competitive global marketplace, effective management of human resources is necessary for success. Students learn to understand the human resource issues brought about by technology and the international business environment, and how to apply their knowledge as a human-resources professional in organizations. Students will choose among courses to learn how to hire, train, develop, retain, compensate and ethically manage a workforce.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

Four of the following:

HRM 301

Work and Workforce Trends

HRM 302

Acquiring and Retaining Human Resources

HRM 303

HR as a Legal Partner

HRM 304

HR Data and Performance Metrics

HRM 305

Total Compensation

HRM 306

Learning and Development

HRM 307

International HRM

HRM 308

Ethics in Managing People at Work

HRM 398

Internship: Human Resources Management

A focused graduate concentration designed to prepare MBA students to work with or within the IT field.

The concentration in information technology introduces students to the capabilities made possible by IT, as well as the challenges associated with being an IT manager. Students learn about selecting and planning IT initiatives, applying data analytics to business problems, and addressing issues of security and privacy within the business environment. Upon completion, students will also understand how to align IT with business needs and how IT enables business value.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

ITM 300

Managing Information Technology in the Business Enterprise

ITM 323

Security, Privacy & Compliance

ITM 324

Data Analytics for Business

ITM 344

Project Governance: Portfolio & Program Management

A global graduate concentration designed to train MBA students for a career in an international setting.

The globalization of the marketplace has increased the demand for internationally oriented managers. This concentration prepares students for a managerial career in an international setting. It is designed to respond to the changing demands for managers who are in tune with the international economy through the advanced electives in international marketing, international finance, or international operations management. Students gain a high degree of competence and confidence in understanding the context of international business.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

Four of the following*:

ECON 340

International Trade & Finance

FI 343

International Corporate Finance

MGT 305

Managing People in International Settings

MGT 306

Legal Aspects of International Business Transactions

MKT 343

International Marketing

OP 329

Global Supply Chain Management

*Other 300-level courses related to international business

A fundamental graduate concentration designed to prepare MBA students for success in the rapidly changing marketing field.

Often considered the central discipline of business, the challenges and practices of marketing are evolving along with the changes in the contemporary business environment. This concentration prepares students to manage the marketing function inside private or public sector business organizations. General management and marketing techniques, such as market research and market planning, are covered along with the current trends and techniques in the field like digital marketing, social media, and the increasing mobile marketing trends.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

Any 300-level course with the MKT prefix.

A structured graduate concentration designed to groom MBA students for careers in project management

Golden Gate University is a PMI^® member.

The concentration in Project Management gives students grounding in multiple skills including budgeting, conflict resolution, communication, project scope, developing and using resources, leadership, and team building. Students gain knowledge from faculty who are certificated by PMI^®. The content of courses is integrated with the Project Management Institute, A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK^®, Guide) - Fifth Edition, Project Management Institute, Inc. 2013. As students progress through their courses, they are preparing themselves for the Project Management Professional (PMP^®) certification exam. The PM concentration provides an opportunity for those who wish to build on their MBA degree work by obtaining project management skills. The certificate is for those who may be working and intend to apply project management skills in their present and future professional endeavors.

PMP^® is a registered trademark of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

PM 340

Project Management

PM 342

Agile Management for Project Managers

PM 343

Project Planning & Control

PM 345

Project Administration, Leadership & Team Dynamics

A progressive graduate concentration designed to prepare MBA students to navigate the bureaucracy of the public sector.

Outsourcing of public sector services to business and non-profit organizations has increased the need for private sector managers who understand how the government bureaucracy works. This concentration provides students with the necessary skills and Knowledge to be successful at public management, applying what they learned to approach the public sector with the mindset of a private sector manager. Students will learn to manage finances in a not-for-profit company, labor practices in the public sector, and running a business amid all the legal red tape that can come along with public administration.

REQUIRED COURSES — 12 UNITS

EMPA 300

Theory, Ethics, & Practice in Public Service

Two of the following:

EMPA 302

Public Policy Analysis & Program Evaluation

EMPA 304

Public Enterprise Management & Public Sector Business Relations

EMPA 305

Public Budgeting & Financial Management

EMPA 306

Public Service & the Law

EMPA 307

Public Personnel Management

Two or more concentrations may be taken in the MBA program. In addition to the course requirements for the concentrations, students must also complete the coursework for all the foundation and the advanced programs. All of the coursework for multiple concentrations must be completed prior to graduation; students may not request any additional concentrations after they have received their MBA. The diploma will list all of the concentrations that the student successfully completed by the date of graduation.